Electrically-driven pendulum.



G. NOBIS.

ELECTRIGALLY DRIVEN PENDULUM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1913.

1,094,238. Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

wi tweoow ummy GUSTAV NOBIS,

or DAVENPORT,

IOWA.

ELECTRICALLY-DRIVEN PENDULUM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV NOBIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Driven Pendulums; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to horology, and more especially to clocks which are actuated by an electrically driven pendulum; and the object of the same is to produce an extremely simple electrical actuating mechanism for a pendulum which may be connected with the escapement wheel in a clock train.

To this end the invention consists in the detailed construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of this device complete, with the electric circuit in diagram, showing the pendulum in full lines as swung to the left and in dotted llnes as swung to the right to the limit of its stroke in each direction. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail of the circuit breaker.

In the drawings is shown conventionally a train of gears T including an escapement E which may be a ratchet wheel, the same forming part of an ordinary clock mechanism such as is usually driven by a spring for the purpose of indicating time by the hands not shown, and it is quite possible to apply my device to such clock mechanism by inverting the same and removing the pendulum or altering its construction to correspond with the description which follows:

Coming now to the present invention, a lever 1 is pivoted on the post or axle 2 of the escapement E which is held by a retaining pawl 8, and the lower end of the lever carries an actuating pawl 4 and a fork 5. A pendulum 6 is held on a pivot 7 and its upper end above the pivot loosely engages the fork so that the swinging of the weight 8 of the pendulum to and fro swings the lever 1 in an opposite direction and turns the escapement step by step as usual. The pendulum carries an armature 9 acted on by an electromagnet 10 which may be rendered adjustable by any suitable means as indi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 2, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Serial No. 771,299.

cated at 11, and in the present case I have shown and in this specification I will describe the magnet as situated to the left of the pendulum and slightly beyond its extreme movement in that direction. A source of electric energy, herein indicated by a battery 12 of dry cells, has a wire 13 leading from one pole to a fixed terminal herein shown as consisting of a set screw 14. Above this terminal is located a hinged or pivoted terminal 15, herein shown as consisting of a lever pivoted at 16; and a wire 17 leads from said pivot to one side of the electromagnet. Another wire 18 leads from the other side of the electromagnet, through a pivot 19, to the other side of the battery 12. When the terminals are in contact it will be clear that an electric impulse is communicated to the magnet and the latter attracts the armature and swings the pendulum to the left. ithin said circuit is located a circuit breaker which opens the circuit between wires 13 and 17 just before the pendulum reaches its extreme movement to the left, and while the circuit breaker may be of any suitable form I prefer that shown herein. On the pivot 19 is hung .a T-shaped member 20 whose stem 21 stands upright and whose head 22 is at the bottom and is formed with projections or ears 23 and 24 at its right and left ends respectively, adapted to be engaged by the shank of the pendulum 6 as the latter swings to and fro. The left end of this head in the present case engages the upbent end or extremity 25 of the hinged terminal when said circuit breaker swings to the left, and disengages the same when the circuit breaker swings away from the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1.

\Vith this construction the action is as follows: The parts being set up and the current turned on, the armature 9 is attracted by the electro-magnet 10 and the pendulum swings to the left. Just before reaching the position shown in full lines, the ear 2a at the left end of the head 22 engages the upbent end of the hinged terminal 15 and raises the latter out of contact with the fixed terminal 14, so that the circuit is broken and the magnet no longer attracts the armature. The pendulum then completes its movement to the left, comes to rest, and returns to the right. In this action its stem swings away from the left ear and moves along the head 22 until it comes into engagement with the right ear 2", when itforcibly draws the circuit breaker 20 to the right and the ear 3 thereoi out from under the upbent end of the terminal 15, so that said terminal falls into contact with the fixed terminal 1% and the circuit is reestablished. But by this time the pendulum has passed an upright position and the armature 9 is out of the field of electric force. The pendulum now completes its movement to the right, carries the circuit breaker with it, comes to rest, and then makes its return movement to the left where the action just described is repeated. hileanwhilo the upper end of the pendulum above its pivot T is actuating the fork 5 and lever l to move the escapement E and drive the train of gears and the clock in a manner not necessary to amplify.

Vhile I have spoken of clocks in this specification, the mechanism thereof will be extremely simple it this actuating device is employed. Each clock needs but an escapement wheel or ratchet wheel E connected with the pendulum as set forth above, and a train of gears T connecting the ratchet wheel with the hands; and all other mechanisms can be removed or omitted. That is to say, each clock will need no spring or spring barrel, no winding mechanism, and no escapement lever as commonly employed. As above suggested, it is quite possible to adapt the ordinary clock to this mechanism,

although it might be preferred to build a clock especially adapted to it.

The proportions and materials of parts are obviously not essential to the successful operation of the invention, and changes in details may be made at will.

\Vhat is claimed as new is:

The combination with a pendulum, a clock train actuated by the movements thereof, and a circuit breaker of inverted T-shape pivoted at its upper end beneath the pivot of the pendulum and having forwardly projecting ears at the extremities of its head between which ears said pendulum swings; of an armature on the pendulum, an electro-magnet fixed at one side of the pendulum and opposite said armature, an electric circuit including the magnet, and a circuit closer within said circuit consisting of a screw constituting a fixed terminal and a bar constituting the other terminal hinged at one end and having its other end upbent and adapted to be raised by one of said ears when the circuit breaker swings to one side.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV NOBIS. \Vitnesses JOHN SormnNnEno, ALBERT C. LEIDEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

